As the most emblematic event of this municipality in the Aveiro district and Porto Metropolitan Area, the festival celebrates the region's agricultural component and has been held since 1944, when, following the allocation of human resources to the tungsten and tin mines managed there by the Germans and British during World War II, there was a need to encourage a return to farming and restore production.

That's why, in addition to Arouquesa breed competitions and parades featuring around 100 head of cattle, the event includes a market with around 150 exhibitors of agricultural and regional products and crafts, as well as parades of carts and costumes, a display of farm machinery, cornbread and vinho verde competitions, and more.

In this 81st edition, the city's overall investment is around 500,000 euros, with which the mayor says she aims to ensure that the event continues "combining tradition and modernity, thus accompanying the natural economic development of the municipality, its industries, and locally based entrepreneurship."

In this context, Margarida Belém highlighted three proposals from the 2025 program, beginning with the exhibition "Fishing in Arouca," which brings together memories and artefacts of this artisanal practice in the municipality at the Municipal Museum, and then mentioning the exhibition "Ancient Mother," which brings to the monastery cloisters audio recordings, photographs, and tools depicting local agriculture, scenes of destruction and abandonment, as well as artistic pieces designed for this purpose by six creators.

The mayor also highlighted the show by the community group Real Confraria do Canto Arouquense, which, accompanied by the Alentejo group "Quatro ao Sul," will bring around 100 people to the stage for a crossover between the polyphonic female singing of Arouca and Alentejo cante.

Rui Veloso's show, meanwhile, is scheduled for Saturday night and costs four euros per person, while Nininho Vaz Maia's will take place on Friday and is free. Both artists were selected based on a popular vote held last April.

The rest of the program at the 81st Harvest Fair includes activities such as cattle and sheep drives, concerts with concertinas and philharmonic bands, folklore performances, old-fashioned dances, and an antiques fair, along with several "taverns" offering regional cuisine.

Specifically for children, there are activities such as a wine-stomping harvest, a husking session, and an onion-roping workshop.